Tips for Working From Home

Do you work from home, or are you planning on working from home? Here’s 6 tips to make the most of telecommuting and getting you through the work day.

Set a specific work place

This may sound silly, but it will really help you mentally speaking. When you have a defined working environment, when you are in that space you’ll have the right attitude to work. If you don’t have a specific working space, and say you work from your living room. When work is over you’ll find it much harder to unwind and switch off.

Take breaks

Mental overload can kill your productivity. Take a break, step away from ‘the office’, and take some you time. When working from home you must make sure that you take time for yourself. Sitting at a desk for 8 hours straight is not good for your health either.

Network

Telecommuting can feel a little lonely. Network online, and over IM. Talking to colleagues in the office over say Skype or even Slack can make you feel a lot more integrated with the team, regardless of how far away you are. Been invited to a LinkedIn group? Accept it. Engage.

Say no to housework

Try not to blur the lines between work and housework. It can be tempting, but it also becomes an easy way to procrastinate and avoid getting harder tasks done. If you need to take a break, take an actual break and don’t do any work at all.

Don’t graze

Working from home this can be so easy. Packet of biscuits in the larder? Strawberries in the fridge? Nuts in the cupboard? Forget about them. The odd snack of course is okay, but don’t spend the day nibbling on bits of food and skip actual meals. Take time out to eat something proper away from your desk. Avoid being the muncher.

Exercise

You’re working from home, you don’t need to look your best and being at home you have a shower/bath. Take a break, go for a run or a jog for 15 minutes to half an hour. Working from home can be very sedentary. Exercise can boost productivity and creativity.